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Published on: August 11, 2015
Can we evaluate cranial aneurysms on conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging?
Emine Caliskan1, Yeliz Pekcevik2, Adnan Kaya3
1Department of Radiology, Suruc State Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey.
Purpose:
To evaluate the contribution of conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the determination of intracranial aneurysms.
Materials And Methods:
Brain MRI and computed tomography angiography (CTA) of 45 patients (29 women and 16 men; age range, 32-80 years) with aneurysm were analyzed. A comparison was made between brain MRI and CTA based on size and presence of aneurysm. The comparisons between MRI and CTA were investigated through Bland-Altman graphics, receiver operating characteristic curve, and Kappa statistics.
Results:
Fifty-seven aneurysms were evaluated. Forty-five percent of 57 aneurysms on CTA were detected on conventional brain MRI. A significant correlation was found between CTA and brain MRI in the diagnosis of aneurysm (P < 0.05). In an analysis of the size measurement, a significant correlation was observed between CTA and brain MRI. Seventy-seven percent of aneurysms <4 mm was not detected and the efficiency of MRI in the detection of aneurysms <4 mm was found to be low.
Conclusion:
Aneurysms can also be appreciated on conventional brain MRI, and vascular structures should be reviewed carefully while analyzing brain MRI.
Insights
Conventional brain MRI can detect intracranial aneurysms, but its effectiveness is limited for smaller ones. Careful review of vascular structures on MRI is recommended for accurate aneurysm diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Intracranial aneurysms pose a significant risk for cerebrovascular events.
- Accurate detection and characterization of aneurysms are crucial for timely intervention.
- Conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely used diagnostic tool.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the diagnostic contribution of conventional brain MRI in identifying intracranial aneurysms.
- To compare the efficacy of brain MRI with computed tomography angiography (CTA) for aneurysm detection and size measurement.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of brain MRI and CTA scans from 45 patients with confirmed aneurysms.
- Comparative evaluation of aneurysm presence and size between MRI and CTA.
- Statistical analysis using Bland-Altman plots, receiver operating characteristic curves, and Kappa statistics.
Main Results:
- Conventional brain MRI detected 45% of the 57 evaluated aneurysms.
- A significant correlation was observed between CTA and brain MRI for aneurysm diagnosis and size measurement (P < 0.05).
- MRI demonstrated low efficiency in detecting aneurysms smaller than 4 mm, with 77% missed.
Conclusions:
- Conventional brain MRI can visualize intracranial aneurysms.
- Radiologists should meticulously examine vascular structures on brain MRI for potential aneurysm identification.
- CTA remains a valuable tool, particularly for smaller aneurysms, complementing MRI findings.
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